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Topic: Marcus Now Equipping D-Cinema

Steve Scott
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1300
From: Minneapolis, MN
Registered: Sep 2000

posted 09-07-2006 12:52 PM

Marcus inherited the ELF-platter driven, poorly maintained houses of Guetschoff Theatres, here in MN. Except for their Oakdale Theatre, I doubt most of their houses here have dedicated booth staff. They didn't when I worked for them.

Even the Oakdale, with a Kinoton for their Ultrascreen looks dim & jumpy, by account of a coworker of mine.

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Chad Souder
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 962
From: Waterloo, IA, USA
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 09-07-2006 05:51 PM

We sort of copied their UltraScreen here at my theatre in Waterloo and the Kinoton we have makes a picture that looks awesome.

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 09-07-2006 09:06 PM

From what I read the interest rates float and I doubt rates will do nothing but climb if the current fed bankers stay true to form and a large loan to finance the conversion of a plex even a 1/2 point increase will tip the balance on making payments

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 09-14-2006 09:22 AM

quote: Louis Bornwasser
My understanding is that the film company's particpation will taper off over a period of time.

If that were the case there wouldn't be an Access-It financing Christie's stuff. Some indies are reportedly already collecting this print fee themselves on plex's that are at least 50% converted over....

quote: Gordon McLeod
From what I read the interest rates float and I doubt rates will do nothing but climb if the current fed bankers stay true to form and a large loan to finance the conversion of a plex even a 1/2 point increase will tip the balance on making payments

Gord, If you read something like that please post the story and/or whre you read it. Sounds more like mere speculation to me.....

Mark

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Chad Souder
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 962
From: Waterloo, IA, USA
Registered: Feb 2000

posted 09-14-2006 06:00 PM

quote: Mark Gulbrandsen
Gord, If you read something like that please post the story and/or whre you read it.

It's a well-known fact that interest rates float. The source is any bank you choose to call.

As far as bank loans go, if Dolby is rating the life expectancy of a server at 15 years, you are not going to get a loan that can be paid back over that same amount of time. First off, banks do not loan 100% of the purchase value. Usually 75% is standard, so you still have to come up with the remainder. Also, banks like to stay ahead of the depreciation of the equipment. Whatever the useful life is on the purchase and what the resale value is estimated to be play a large role in what that loan will be and what the interest rate will be. For example, most new car loans are only a 5 year, regardless of the fact that the car will still have a substantial resale value after the 5 years and after the car is dead it still has a resale value. What will be the resale value of this equipment after the useful life? Again, if 15 years is the projected life, then a 7 year loan would be realistic, unless there is a large down payment. It also makes a difference if you are borrowing on a single item or if it would be a blanket security agreement. In the case of a theatre chain, they would have other assets, such as real estate, to offer as collateral, thus dropping the interest rate on the loan the bank would offer. In a small operation, your collateral is limited and you would not get the same, low rate.

It seems to me as if at this point it would be decidedly UNaffordable for a small one or two screen theatre to self-finance a conversion.

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 09-15-2006 06:50 AM

Chad,
Am well aware of all that stuff. Those that buy D.C. outright will mainly end up doing so on a lease program and these leases are at a fixed rate and always have been for that matter. Maximum lease interval available right now is 6 years and that length of time is suitible for any small PROFITABLE operation to be able to afford the equipment. We have several that want to do it....

Mark

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 09-15-2006 08:44 AM

Wow, that is an awful lot of money to spend to get a image resolution 1/2 that of the worst 35mm format. Especially considering the the cost/year for a film system is next to $0 given its long and proven life.

Warner Bros has already indicated that they don't plan to help finance these projectors for too much longer (by this I presume no virtual print fees).

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 09-16-2006 01:41 PM

Like all things Cinema each location has its needs and those getting these systems will benefit greatly by the decision to install them.

Mark

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 09-16-2006 04:55 PM

Not too likely. They won't pull in any more patrons...only good movies will do that. They only stand to cost SOMEBODY an awful lot of money, continually.

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 09-16-2006 08:59 PM

quote: Steve Guttag
They won't pull in any more patrons

In my case they are not for pulling in patrons.. they are mainly for running certain types of material at certain times of the year. BTW: the NEC with its ability to utilize standard cinema lamps is quite economical to operate. Its optical train being more efficient is a big advantage to not having to use the expensive D.C. lamps.

Mark

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Michael Schaffer
"Where is the
Boardwalk Hotel?"

Posts: 4143
From: Boston, MA
Registered: Apr 2002

posted 09-16-2006 09:25 PM

You can use conventional CXL type lamps like the CXL-30 in the Christie CP2000. The lamp size required is roughly the same or at least in the same ballpark as for a 35mm now.
Don't remember which types the NEC projectors use, but don't they have a lamp module that pulls out to the side? That is extremely easy and safe to swap, but I have always been doubtful if an essentially plug-in connection for high current DC is really a good idea. I am not saying it isn't - I don't have much experience with these projectors - I am just wondering. I don't remember if the lamp inside the module is operator-swapable either. Sending the lamp modules in for lamp replacement would create extra work and costs.
The lamps in the Christie CP2000 are just as quick and easy to change as in the SLC. The only difference is that you approach from the other side.

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 09-16-2006 11:17 PM

Barco's lamps go in a pull out module. As to the connections...it is done all the time with welding cable but in principle, I agree with you.

The Barco projectors use conventional xenon lamps. The only difference is the anode cable is short and the hole in the lug is huge...something like 15mm (just a guess).

An advantage to the lamp module aspect is you can have one preloaded with a lamp (the system is all enclosed since there is a heat filter on the front). Thus, if you need to change a lamp in a hurry...it is a simple matter to pull the bad module out and load the replacement module in.

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 09-18-2006 08:10 AM

quote: Michael Schaffer
Don't remember which types the NEC projectors use, but don't they have a lamp module that pulls out to the side?

All of the NEC models have a rear lamp change and the 1500 and 2500 are approved for all Christie and Osram lamps that pertain to rquivelent cinema sized lamps. The NEC's are also ALOT more light efficient than the other two brands which waste alot of loght in their optical trains.

quote: Steve Guttag
Not too likely. They won't pull in any more patrons...only good movies will do that. They only stand to cost SOMEBODY an awful lot of money, continually.

Agreed we need good movies but digital systems won't lessen the attendance either. Also you'd have a VERY hard time convincing the various people that have over 35 digital projectors here in SLC that they are expensive to run. Quite the opposite in fact..... Perhaps you have some older servers that require an engineer to load and set up the shows on... Not here though.

Mark

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 09-18-2006 11:53 AM

Mark, the cost per year of a DCinema system is significantly higher due to their very short life expectancy. A film projector 5-years after it is installed can still be kept running with very minimal parts that can be multi-sourced. A digital projector is out of date in 5-years time and is EXTREMELY expensive to service and will obsolete very fast with only single source supply of parts.

Steve

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Ron Yost
Master Film Handler

Posts: 344
From: Paso Robles, CA
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 09-18-2006 08:28 PM

Amen, Steve. On all points.

Ron Yost .. wears no rose-colored glasses, either, and is in no way connected with exhibition. I have no vested interest in this whole teeveecinema deal at all, other than as a lover of real film (and the vain hope described below).

I WOULD like to get a nice nearly-free 35mm Kinoton for my little home screening room out of this 'changeover'. Maybe I can 'divert' one on its way as scrap to China? Yeah, that'll happen, huh? [Big Grin]

And, yes, I know there are relatively few of them out there compared to the industry-workhorse machines that will be scrapped. [Frown]

What a wasteful folly.

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